Archive for May, 2016

Compliance Deadline for Hazard Communication Standard Approaching

May. 18th, 2016

On March 20, 2012, OSHA issued the Hazard Communication Standard Final Rule (HCS 2012), one of the most significant regulatory changes to affect workplace health and safety practices in years. In the U.S., over five million workplaces and 40 million workers are expected to be impacted by this regulatory change. The need for reform in HazCom regulations became clear as violations of the HCS made their way to the top ten list of OSHA violations every year. To fulfill this need for change, OSHA built on the existing HCS by adopting the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Updates and Benefits Significant changes to the HCS: 1. Update Hazard classification requirement 2. Streamline labeling requirements 3. Use specified Safety Data Sheet format 4. Provide employees with necessary information and training Benefits of adopting the GHS: 1. Reduces confusion and increases comprehension of hazards 2. Improves risk management 3. Facilitates training Compliance Timeline To further assist with GHS compliance, OSHA’s Fact Sheet provides details of the training requirements. Please note the final deadline of the 36-month GHS transition period is June 1, 2016: December 1, 2013: Employers must train workers on the new label elements and SDS format June 1, 2015: Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers must copy with all modified provisions of the final rule December 1, 2015: Distributors may ship products labeled by manufacturers under the old system until December 1, 2015 June 1, 2016: Employers must update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication programs as necessary and provide additional worker training for newly identified physical and health hazards Please reference the OSHA website for additional information.

ISN Team to Exhibit at the AWEA WINDPOWER Conference

May. 18th, 2016

WINDPOWER 2016 is hosted by the America Wind Energy Association (AWEA) on May 23-26 in New Orleans, LA. As the national trade association for the U.S. wind industry, AWEA promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for American consumers. Wind power is the country’s fastest growing energy sector with enough operating turbines to power 20 million average homes. Stop by our Booth The ISN team will be located at Booth 4450. Visit us to learn more about how ISN helps connect Hiring Clients with safe and sustainable contractors, facilitating partnerships to help ensure compliance with safety and procurement standards. We will be providing live demonstrations of our online contractor management platform, ISNetworld. Copies of our energy benchmarking reports and the white paper, What is Best-in-Class Contractor Management, will be available.

OSHA’s New Recordkeeping Requirements: Are You In Compliance?

May. 12th, 2016

Edwin G. Foulke, Attorney at Law for Fisher & Phillips LLP and Former Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA shared his insight regarding OSHA’s new recordkeeping requirements, effective January 1, 2015, in two webinars hosted on May 11 and May 12, 2016. This was the first set of webinars in his three-part series, hosted solely for ISN customers. OSHA’s revised occupational injury and illness recordkeeping and reporting requirements dramatically increased employers’ reporting requirements. Additionally, information obtained from the new reporting requirements will be made public on OSHA’s website. Recordkeeping Webinar Highlights The webinar examined the many recordkeeping pitfalls that employers face, especially those that use temporary employees. Highlights of the webinar included: What events are required to be reported directly to OSHA under the new rule What injuries and illnesses are recordable and why The scope of the first aid exemption How to coordinate injury/illness recordkeeping requirements How to use recordkeeping to improve current safety and health management program How to analyze each injury or illness to ensure they are properly recorded A recording of the webinar is available at OSHA’s New Recordkeeping Requirements: Are You In Compliance? and the legal alert from Ed Foulke’s office is available here. We look forward to the additional webinars later this year. Presentation and handouts have been provided by Edwin G. Foulke, who is solely responsible for the webinar and its content.

ISNetworld Team to Speak & Exhibit at the 10th Annual HSE Excellence Europe

May. 12th, 2016

This year’s HSE Excellence Europe will be taking place in Frankfurt, Germany from Tuesday, 17 May to Wednesday, 18 May. Top executives across all industries will discuss major issues that will be tackled by the safety industry in the upcoming years. Highlights of this year’s programme include 21st century leadership and workforce engagement, visible safety leadership by all and proactive stress measurement and employee health programmes. Attending the HSE Excellence Europe provides expansive knowledge on the safety industry and key takeaways that can be applied in the future. Join the Conversation ISNetworld will be participating in a panel debate on “How to get the most of your EHS Management System” and holding an informational session on “What is Best-in-Class in Contractor Management” which outlines 10 essential attributes found in best-in-class contractor management systems and analyses of health and safety performance data. “What is Best-in-Class-Contractor Management”: Tuesday, 17 May at 16:00: ISNetworld HSE Team Lead David Bibby to present Panel Debate: “How to get the most of your EHS Management System”: Tuesday, 17 May at 16:20: ISNetworld Senior Manager Bonney Hodges participating as a panelist Stop by our Booth Visit our booth to learn more about how ISNetworld helps connect Hiring Clients with safe and sustainable contractors, facilitating partnerships to help ensure compliance with safety and procurement standards. Copies of the white paper, What is Best-in-Class-Contractor Management, will be provided as well as live demonstrations of our online contractor management platform. We look forward to seeing you there.

OSHA Updates Eye and Face Protection Standards for Employers

May. 10th, 2016

OSHA recently issued a final rule revising the standards for eye and face protection. The rule (known as ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015 or the Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices standard) came into effect on April 25, 2016, and covers eye and face protection standards for employers across general industry, shipyards, marine terminals, long-shoring and construction. How the final rule updates references to ANSI standards OSHA’s ruling is intended to align workplace safety and compliance standards with the national consensus standards approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). As a result, OSHA mandates that all employers ensure that their employees use appropriate eye and face protection in areas where flying objects, dangerous chemicals or other hazards might pose the threat of eye or face injury. With the updated standards, all protective equipment provided must also meet specified consensus standards. Why this is important Depending on your particular business, this new standard could have an impact on whether or not your company is in compliance with the latest workplace safety standards. In order to help you better understand the appropriate use for specific eye and face protectors, the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) created a free Eye and Face Protection e-tool that can help guide you through the process of selecting the proper safety equipment. Helpful links To learn more about the national consensus standards, please visit www.ansi.org or download the federal register page detailing the new rule here. The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has also created educational material intended to help you understand the differences and the risk assessment methodologies, and can be found on the ASSE website.